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BREAKING: Coveted 4-star LB Karsten Busch signs with Miami Hurricanes over Wisconsin

Stephen Wagner covers recruiting for the University of Miami for On3 Sports and CaneSport. He can be found on Twitter at @stephenwag22 and reached at Stephen.Wagner@On3.com.by: Stephen Wagner12/03/25stephenwagOn3

Louisville (Ky.) St. Xavier four-star 2026 linebacker Karsten Busch has committed to and signed with Miami over Wisconsin, the No. 19 linebacker in the Rivals300 announced on the Rivals YouTube Channel Wednesday afternoon during his school’s signing day ceremony.

“The people in the program,” Busch said of his reasoning. “Miami is not just warm weather and sunshine, has a very good coaching staff consisting of hard-working coaches who love football.”

He added that with the Cane coaches “My favorite thing about them is the energy they bring. On the visit they really made it fun and entertaining.”

Busch becomes the 30th member of Miami’s 2026 class, second linebacker in the cycle along with three-star Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater prospect Justin Edwards and first signing-day addition for the Hurricanes. The 6-foot-2, 221-pound linebacker originally spent eight months committed to Louisville before decommitting from the Cardinals Nov. 14.

Busch received a strong push from Miami in October that included defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Corey Hetherman making a trip to his school to meet with his coaches and watch him play during one of the Hurricanes’ bye weeks but never showed meaningful interest. But when he decommitted from Louisville last Monday, a door reopened for Miami to work its way back in.

Wisconsin quickly emerged as the favorite to land Busch, but the Hurricanes proved they were contenders by locking him in for a last-minute official visit to Miami within two days of him splitting ways with the Cardinals. He spent Saturday on Miami’s campus after the Hurricanes returned from their 38-7 win over Pittsburgh and spent extensive time with Hetherman Sunday before flying back to Louisville that evening.

Sources told CaneSport after his visit Miami had completely closed the gap on Wisconsin, the presumed favorite, and that he was “50-50” between the two schools. But Miami emerged as the new frontrunner altogether less than 24 hours later.

Busch’s signing gives Miami 20 four-star commits in the Rivals Industry Ranking this cycle and the Hurricanes’ first new addition of the Early Signing Period.

“It’s a place full of opportunity, consistent winning football team with a top defense every year,” he said. “I think the program is just scratching the surface on what’s to come.”

CaneSport’s Take

It felt like Miami’s ship had sailed on Busch earlier this fall, but when the opportunity reemerged Miami didn’t hesitate to jump on it. He’s another solid pickup for the Hurricanes and a nice signing-day get.

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